Sunderland appear to be keen to strengthen their defensive options.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Sunderland’s interest in Martin Hinteregger and Aleksandar Dragovic appeared to move up a level this week as the Black Cats had representatives in attendance to watch the Austrian pair feature in their country’s game with Wales, the Sunday People reports.
And while the People reports that the two centre-backs have been on Sunderland’s radar since last season when Sam Allardyce was in charge, it appears that current boss David Moyes has been monitoring their progress for a considerably longer time.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Austria’s Martin Hinteregger
The People claims that Dragovic was being pursued by the Scotsman when he was in charge at Everton, while his countryman came to Moyes’ attention during his ill-fated spell at Manchester United.
Considering that Moyes left the Red Devils more than two years ago, and the Toffees almost a year before that, it would perhaps be fair to say that Hinteregger and Dragovic are likely to be high up on his list of priority targets given that they remain on his radar.
Dragovic playing for Austria
And it is not difficult to understand why. The pair were instrumental in ensuring that Austria reached this summer’s European Championships as they conceded just five goals in qualifying.
And with both men now plying their trade in the Bundesliga – Hinteregger with Augsburg, and Dragovic with Bayer Leverkusen – it appears that they could be brilliant additions to Sunderland’s squad as they look to drag themselves away from danger, especially if Moyes can pull off an incredible double swoop and bring both men in as their experience together would mean that both men would need considerably less time to settle.
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